How to open a file with tramp mode when Helm is active?

Question

I recently started using Helm with the configuration below

(require 'helm-config)
(helm-mode 1)
(define-key global-map [remap occur] 'helm-occur)
(define-key global-map [remap list-buffers] 'helm-buffers-list)
(define-key global-map [remap dabbrev-expand] 'helm-dabbrev)
(global-set-key (kbd "M-x") 'helm-M-x)
(setq helm-M-x-fuzzy-match t)

Today I figured out that Tramp mode doesn't work anymore. When I try to open a file with C-x C-f and enter /sudo:root@TAB nothing happens. Usually I'd expect that localhost is substituted and tramp asks for a password.

How can I have a still functional tramp mode plus a working Helm?

Isn't `root` and `localhost` default for `/sudo`? I think `/sudo::` should work. — PythonNut, Feb 03 '16 at 05:25

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 03 '16 at 14:51

the way it works for me is the following:

call helm-find-files (usually C-xC-f)
write /scp:
if you have used tramp before you get a list with previous locations which you can select with C-j (or type a new remote by hand), pressing now C-j a second time or typing a : will connect you to the remote server
now helm completion on the remote starts, type / if you want to be located in the root directory or ~, if you want to access your home directory

This does not work for me. Even more when I have a specific port on my virtual machine. — MarkSkayff, Apr 03 '20 at 21:22

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 04 '20 at 12:34

Ok, this is an issue and it's odd Helm doesn't recognize the /ssh: as usual Emacs does with Tramp.

The way I worked around this is as follows.

With Helm you rewrite the C-x C-f command to use helm-find-files. What I did then is to remap this to another keybinding, one that is not in use. For instance, in my .emacs I did:

(global-set-key (kbd "C-x C-h") #'helm-find-files)`

I bound helm-find-files to C-x c-h whenever I want to use the helm files finder. Then with the usual C-x C-f I keep connecting with the remote servers or vm's using Tramp.

And the nice thing about this is that after you connect with Tramp, then using the helm-find-files works ok with the ssh remote connection.

Edit (another option):

Another option, and it's one I ended up doing is to remap the Emacs Elisp function find-file, usually bound to C-x C-f to a different keybinding, like this:

(global-set-key (kbd "C-x C-h") 'find-file)

And then the C-x C-f can be used by Helm with helm-find-file.

How to open a file with tramp mode when Helm is active?

2 Answers2